Electrolytic apparatus for treating metals



(No Model.) 2 SheetsSheet 1.

, E. S. HAYDEN.

BLEOTROLYTIG APPARATUS FOR TREATING METALS. No. 465,525. Patented Dec. 22, 1891.

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No. 465,525. Patented Dec. 22, 1891.

eo Wad MM MW I UNITED STATEs PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD S. HAYDEN, OF WATERBURY, CONNECTICUT.

ELECTROLYTIC APPARATUS FOR TREATING-METALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 465,525, dated December 22, 1891.

' Application filed November 5,1881. Serial No. 254.376. (No modelfi To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD S. HAYDEN, of Waterbury, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Electrolytic Apparatus for Treating Metal, of which the following is a specification.

The object of this improvement is to facilitate the separation of precious metals from baser metals and also to separate from metals generally such foreign matters as may be incorporated with them.

The improvement involves the treatment by electrolysis.

' dotted line.

I will describe my improvement in detail, and then point out the various novel features in claims. 7

The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus adapted for use in carrying out my improvement.

Figure l is a sectional side view of electrolytic baths or tanks embodying my improvement, arranged in series, and a dynamo-electric machine connected therewith, together with certain appurtenances of the baths. Fig. 2 is a plan or top 'view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section of the apparatus, taken at the plane of the dotted line an 00, Fig. 2, and looking in the direction indicated by the arrows extending from the ends of said Fig. 4: is a horizontal section of a part of one of the baths which form parts of the apparatus. Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of one of the baths which form parts of the apparatus. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of a number of side pieces which are employed in each of the apparatus for the purpose of receiving the side edges of the plates to be treated and supporting such plates above the bottom of the bath.

Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A designates a dynamo-electric machine which may be of any approved style suitable for electroplating. I have deemed it sufficient to give but an arbitrary representation of this machine, butI have marked the wires connected to the machine and so that the representation will be perfectly intelligible. The positive pole is connected by a wire B with the anode-plates C of electrolytic baths or tanks T. I have shown two of these baths T, arranged side by side and have represented the Wire 13 as branching so as to extend to the anode-plates C of both of these baths. The cathode-plates D of thesebaths are connected by wires or rods E with the anode-plates C of other electrolytic baths or tanks T. There are two of the baths T, and they are shown as arranged side by side and in line with the baths T.

There may be a different number of bathsv used; but I have illustrated a sufficient nuin- I they may be connected to the baths T in the same manner that the baths T are connected to the baths T. in the present instance the baths T'-have The last baths of the seriestheir cathode-plates D connected to a wire B, which extends to the negative pole of the dynamo-electric machine. Theanbde'and cathode plates of each batli'are arranged as far apart as possible, and consequently close to the ends of the bath. Betweenthem are arranged a number of pl-atesG of the metal which is to be treated for the purpose of 1'61.

fining it or separating its constituent parts. The anode-plate of each bath will generally be of the same character as the plates G of the metal to be treated. Assuming that the anode-plate of each bath is of cop per combined with a greater or less percentage of precious metals and other foreign matter, and that the plates G to be treated are the same, the solution in the bath will be a copper solution-as, for instance, a sulphateof-copper solution. The cathodeplates may then be made of any suitable material. Indeed they may also be of copper. The plates of the metal to be treated may be cast in shape to be used in the baths; but it will be preferable to subject the plates of metal which are to be treated according to my improvement to a rolling operation for the purpose of compacting them and rendering them homogeneous. Therolling will be done be fore they are placed in the baths. They will be arranged as close together in the baths as they can be located without danger of contact, and supported so as to be elevated slightly above the bottom of the baths. It will be seen thatthey are unconnected ex cept through the electrolytic solution. The means whereby they are supported in the present example of my improvement consist of grooves a in the side pieces of the baths, such grooves being closed at the bottom by insulating material, so that they may not only sustain the plates sidewise but vertically by extending under the bottom of thelateral edge portions. The side walls of the grooves form narrow partitions between adjacent plates, so that a great number of plates may be placed in each bath. When the plates are supported in this manner, their main portions, which extend across the baths between the grooves a, and which are subject to electrolytic action, will not rest upon anything beneath them, being supported at a distance above the bottom of the bath.

Preferably the grooves a are made in strips of wood, whichare independent of or made separate from the side walls of the baths, and these strips of wood may perhaps most advantageously have the grooves closed at the lower ends by driving plugs into the grooves at the lower ends. A strip or strips extending beneath the grooves could, however, be used. One of the grooved strips of wood is shown in Fig. 6, a being a plug which is made separately from the strip and driven into the groove of the strip at the lower end of the strip. It will be observed that this plug a does not project laterally or horizontally beyond the grooves of the strip.

A number of strips such as I have described are shown as arranged side by side in close proximity to each other and to the side walls of the baths; They may be fastened to the baths or they may be left unfastened, because in the latter case the plates fitted to them will keep them in their proper positions relatively to the side walls of the baths. I may make the grooves 01. of the strips so narrow that the strips will fit tightly upon the lateral edges of the plates to be treated. Indeed the grooves may be made so narrow that they can only be fitted to the plates by driving them onto the plates. 7

It may be advantageous in many cases to form the plates to be treated in such sizes that several, superposed one above the other, will be required to extend from the lower portion to the upper portion of the baths. Then, if the grooved strips by which they are to be supported in the baths are adapted to fit tightly upon them, such strips may be the means of uniting a set of the small plates into one compound plate, as shown in Fig. 5.

When the grooved strips are unattached to the walls of the bath and are constructed so that they may be driven tightly upon the side edges of plates, very great facility for introducin g the plates into the bath will be afforded. If the grooved strips were fixtures in the bath,

' it would be difficult to introduce the plates,

for the least canting of aplate would cause it to catch in the grooved strips, and it would then descend no farther until after being by the pump from the reservoir J.

lifted and leveled. When it is remembered that these plates are large and heavy and very difficult to insert in grooves formed in fixtures, it will be realized that it will be an extremely difficult thing to introduce the plates where the grooved strips are fixed in a bath. By raising the plates upon a floor, where they are accessible, and then driving on the grooved strips the plates, with the attached strips, may be readily introduced into the bath. Practical experience shows that the difference between grooved strips attached to a bath as compared with those which are unattached to the bath, but attached to the plates, is very great.

It is not essential that the strips should severally be provided with but a single groove.

It will be advantageous to soak the strips with par-affine if they shall be made of wood. In any case the strips are to be made of nonconduct ing material.

The electrical current from the dynamoelectric machine passes to the anode-plates of the electrolytic baths T, and flows thence through the solution to the nearest of the plates G of metal to be treated. It flows thence in the same manner from one to another of the plates G, and ultimately to the cathode-platesof thebaths. Fromthecathodeplates it proceeds to the anode-plates of the baths T, and after passing through these baths in the same manner as it passed through the baths T, it returns along the wire B to the dynamo-electric machine.

J designates a receptacle or reservoir which contains a supply of the electrolytic solution.

K designates a pump which is employed to cause the flow of the electrolytic solution through the baths T T, and to etfect the mixing of the solution in order that it may be maintained as far as practicable in a homogeneous condition. This pump causes the solution to How from the reservoir J through the baths. After flowing through the latter it will return to the reservoir.

I do not desire to claim, broadly, the idea of circulating a solution through an electrolytic bath or baths. A means whereby the solution may be circulated through the baths satisfactorily to me in carrying out my improvement I have illustrated in the drawings, and will now describe.

L designates a main supply-pipe leading from a tank J, with which the delivery-pipe of the pump is connected, and which consequently receives the solution that is conveyed L extends adjacent to the several baths so that it may deliver solution into them.

I may provide any desirable means for effecting the heating of the solution. I have shown the tank J as having combined with it a compartment outside of that compartment or portion which receives the solution, and in such extra compartment Imay arrange a steam-coil or otherwise circulate steam, so as to accomplish the desired result.

IIO

This pipe baths.

From the main supply-pipe branch pipes L extend. They com municate with the baths near the top of the latter and have combined with them cocks L in order that provision may be aifordedfor controlling the fiow of the solution through them into the baths.

It will be seen that the baths have combined with them siphons Q, whose shorter arms or limbs are within the baths and extend close to the bottoms of the baths, yet not so close as to reach the foreign matter deposited thereon. The longer limbs of the siphon Q extend outside the baths and down into atrough N, which is located beneath the The solution passing off through the siphons will therefore be delivered into the trough N. The siphons do not, as here represented, pass over the walls of the baths, but pass through the same near their upper ends. Each of the siphons is provided with a hole q in the upper part of that one of its limbs which is within the bath with which it is used. Whenever the solution rises in a bath sufficiently high to cover the hole q of the siphon which is combined with that bath, then the siphon will be rendered operative as a siphon, and will thereafter continue to siphon out the solution from the lower part of the bath until the solution is lowered below the hole. After this the solution may still flow through the siphon so long as its level remains above the lower portion of the interior surface of the horizontal portion of the siphon. During the last-described flow the operation of the siphon will be that of an overflow-pipe.

By employing siphon-pipes for carrying oif the solution I am enabled to remove the solution from the lower part of the baths without appreciably agitating the solution therein. Other outlets for the solution, however, may, if preferred, be used instead of the siphonpipes.

By supporting the plates in the bath in the manner which I have illustrated and described as a feature of my improvement a circulation of the solution beneath them is provided for and the formation of spurs due to the collection of sediment immediately adjacent to the bottom edges of the plates will be practically avoided.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an electrolytic bat-h having a number of plates unconnected electrolytically excepting through a solution in the bath and having narrow partitions extending from opposite sides of the bath adapted to hold the plates in a vertical position and out of contact with each other, stops wholly between the partitions supporting the plates above the bottom of the bath, substantially as specified.

2. In an electrolytic bath having a number of plates unconnected electrolytically excepting through a solution in the bath and having independent grooved side pieces in the bath, the side Walls of the grooves forming narrow partitions engaging the lateral edges of the plates to be treated and holding said plates out of contact with each other, stops at the lower ends of said grooves supporting the plates above the bottom of the bath, the said stops not projecting beyond the faces of the partitions, substantially as specified.

3. In an electrolytic bath havinga number of metal plates unconnected electrolytically, excepting through a solution in the bath, a series of grooved strips removable from the tank, driven tightly onto the side edges of the plates, and constructed so as to be capable of sustaining the plates within the bath above its bottom, substantially as specified.

ED WARD S. HAYDEN.

Witnesses:

FARNHAM 0. Fox, W. H. ANDERSON. 

